Balancing form and function Balancing form and function Balancing form and function

Amanda Woodcock, ’15, is no stranger to experimenting, whether she’s designing a bedside decanter that’s as beautiful as it is functional or dreaming up a new display for her market booth. As the founder of Modern Science Project, Amanda is known for dreaming up funky and functional iridescent pottery and glassware. Her work is informed by her background as a product designer and mechanical engineer turned potter and glass artist.

We sat down with Amanda to learn more about the process of finding her signature style, how she comes up with new designs and her advice for getting more comfortable with experimentation.

You studied bioengineering at the UW. How did the skills you developed in your major and in product design inform Modern Science Project?

Bioengineering taught me how to problem solve using new methods and materials. It helped me realize that an experiment or idea might not work the first time, but the process can inform my next decision.

With Modern Science Project, I’m using problem solving skills to create beautiful and functional products. I want to make the mug you use every day, or the bowl that everyone in your family reaches for first. During the process of coming up with designs, I’m asking myself, “What will make you want to grab his mug every day? Is it the color, shape, or the fact that it’s microwave-safe?” All of these questions inform my design process.

A lot of what you do for Modern Science Project is an art and a science. How do you balance the creativity of designing new pieces with growing and scaling as a business?

My creativity comes into play when I’m coming up with new designs. I start with a digital design, and then I’ll 3-D print a plastic prototype to see what it’s like to hold the design in my hand. Once I’ve finalized a design, I’ll create a mold and cast it so I can create the same piece over and over. It’s scalable and efficient.

When I’m making new pieces, it’s much more about the science. I’ll measure the humidity and temperature of the room and check the viscosity of the slip mixture used to make pottery to ensure that we get a consistent result. I get to scratch that science itch with pottery, and my glasswork enables me to be more creative.

Some people might be intimidated by the concept of ideation and prototyping. Do you have any advice for someone who is experimenting for the first time, especially as part of their business?

My work in product design reinforced the idea that the point of a prototype is to teach you something, which means nothing is ever a “failure.” If an idea is important to you, it’s going to come back in a new form. Sometimes, I’ll design something that won’t be right in the moment, so I’ll shelve it and come back to it later. Other times, I’ll experiment with new techniques to see how that affects the process.

What designs are you currently working on?

Every once in a while, I’ll brainstorm every possible thing in my house that I could make with ceramics, and that’s how I started designing a bedside decanter with a cup. I wanted it to feel like the cup and the decanter were all one piece that still felt organic. I sketched out shapes, used Pinterest for texture and form inspiration, and eventually 3-D printed my first prototype to see how it feels to hold and use. Eventually, I will prototype a rubber mold, which can eventually be used to recreate the same design with clay.

I’ve developed my signature style over time. I love wiggles and repeating patterns, and I also like to mix hard and soft shapes so my pieces feel organic.

How did you find your unique style as an artist?

I credit finding my style to the small decisions I’ve made as I’ve tested different different techniques, colors and textures. That’s how I landed on making color-changing iridescent pottery and glassware.

I also believe that our daily routines have the power to prime us for joy. I want to create pieces that bring whimsy to people’s lives, whether that’s through a coffee mug that reminds you of riding your bike or a lava lamp shot glasses that capture the joy of childhood without making it feel childish. I hope my pieces inspire that feeling.

Check out Modern Science Project and their latest pieces, and follow along for updates on Instagram.

About the author: Aleenah Ansari (she/her) is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who’s rooted in the stories of people behind products, companies, and initiatives. She writes about travel, entrepreneurship, mental health and wellness, and representation in media for Insider, The Seattle Times, Byrdie, and more. You can usually find her searching for murals, reading a book by a BIPOC author, or planning her next trip to New York. You can learn more at www.aleenahansari.com.